Bella Hunt is a successful therapist with two loving dogs and two best friends. She has left her mousy, shy, bullied teenage self far behind, both figuratively and literally, by moving 3 hours away from her hometown. Until, that is, Easton Evans, one of the girls who participated in the bullying, who also happened to be Bella's biggest high school crush, shows up in the conflict resolution class that Bella is teaching.

Former cheerleader Easton Evans shows up to the conflict resolution class and doesn't recognize Bella from high school. Newly divorced from her former high school quarterback husband, Easton is ready to begin dating women. Sparks fly between Bella and Easton and the two begin dating.

I found some parts of the book a little hard to believe, even with the suspension of disbelief that a romance novel requires. However, the writing is pretty good and the story, although pushing the limits of coincidence, was also not bad.

3.25 stars, it was a classic Beers book really but this one just didnt reach the bar of being among the favorites for me.
It was a rather sweet story, with all the cuteness Beers brings in her books but still some things did annoy me that i couldnt shake off.
First the fact that Bella didnt tell Easton they knew eachother from school for SO long, it really didnt feel like a big deal to be this reason that would cause abit drama towards the end, i was just frustrated by it.
Then the fact that Easton didnt remember her, first i thought well yeah ofcourse it makes sence, she looks different and goes by Bella now not Izzy, but after i read the flashbacks, where its Eastons friend - Tara, that she didnt even like but was the popular girl at school who was being the mean bitch and bullying Bella back then and Easton laughed at all the jokes but we read that she felt horrible about it,
and how we find out about Bella starting to have feelings and dreams about Easton, Easton herself is having feelings and dreams about another girl at school.
This little mix of Tara bullying her about being gay and Easton feeling bad about laughing at her, i had such hard time with the fact that after Easton finally learns the truth about Bella she still doesnt remember her and what she did to her.

Maybe its my own expierence when i once laughed at a joke in school and later found out the person had gotten really sad about it and to this day i can still think about it and still feel so bad about it.. and it was that one time lol

So while i did enjoy the sweet scenes i found the rest unconvincing.

Georgia Beers never disappoints. She excels at creating characters you love and want to know. I thought she handled the bullying issues with sensitivity and intelligence. Terrific book!

The last Georgia Beers books had been good, but this one is way better than them in the sense that it reminds me of the old books she used to write, where the pace is good and the happy ending is always in sight.

I look forward to reading more from her, as she always delivers and continues to be one of my favorite authors.

I gave this book 4 stars, Ms. Beers once again spins a great story. I know this theme has been done before (old high school classmates find each other years later), but I like her spin on it that one of them doesn't even remember (a hurt on its own).

The story is about how one classmate is 180 degrees different then when she was in high school, coming out of her shell, liking who she has grown into, and the other basically coming to terms with her sexuality. Ms. Beers adds some twist and turns along the way, throw in a few interesting sub character friends and you have a good classical story of find love years later.

I found the characters to be well developed, and the story line moved at a good pace. I would recommend this book to anyone just looking for a nice light read for an evening or two.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-Enjoyable

Somewhere between 2 to 2.5 stars. I feel this book didn't live up to the blurb and in many ways takes the easy way out without much if any character development. All is waived away easily by such excuses as them being children at the time and that they had their own problems, so it doesn't matter anymore. What's the point then?

The book also waits too long to let the other shoe drop. It got really tedious to finally get to that predictable conflict point so the plot could finally move forward. The payoff to me was not really satisfying.

The secondary cast was really shallow and caricature-like. The infinitely supportive ex-husband especially got on my nerves, I couldn't see him as an actual human being. And was there a point to also include the child in the picture? Because it added nothing to the story besides providing an extra excuse for Easton to stay married to her husband of so many years.

The author also normalizes long term cheating and lying as completely acceptable solutions to a problem. Everyone just nods their heads and support the character unquestionably. No questions or even private worries raised if the person will continue to do that in the future. No thanks, if you cheat and perpetually lie, I don't want to do anything with you.

Overall, I can't say I enjoyed this read.

Bella (Izzy) Hunt hated high school. She didn’t look like the rest, she wore second hand clothes. And to make matters worse she was starting to question her sexuality. Unfortunately she also was an easy target for the cool kids to pick on. Part of that group is
Easton Evans, perfect in every way (or so it seemed to Izzy) but she too was questioning her own sexuality. Easton along with her boyfriend Conner followed the leader of their little group, Queen Bee Tara in making Izzy’s high school years a living hell. Now years later Easton has to take a class in conflict resolution, along with the other managers of the company they work for. Bella (Izzy) is now a therapist, so when she’s asked to lead the class she is shocked to see Easton. She remembers everything from high school and how Easton treated her. Easton doesn't recognise Bella at all. All she see is someone she would love to get to know better. This book by Ms Beers reminds me of her book ‘Olive Oil and White Bread’, where she again takes the time to delve into the characters, making this one of her best. Very, very enjoyable. Great read.
ARC via NetGalley

This is a typical Georgia Beers book. It maintains its levity and frothiness even while dealing with (or rather glossing over) serious issues like divorce, infidelity, parenting and bullying. Unlike television dramas where anything that can go wrong, does go wrong, in Beers books hardly anything goes wrong. Well maybe one tiny little thing might get messed up just to introduce that token amount of conflict.
There is no doubt that Beers is a good writer with tonnes of potential to go a little deeper into her characters' psyche. I am always eager to read her novels and I thoroughly enjoy them too. But sometimes, just sometimes I wish she would push the boundaries like I believe she's capable of doing.

Georgia Beers is one of my favorites in this genre, and she doesn't dissappoint with The Do-Over. Her writing style is beautiful, and her characters are always so real.

This was a fun and dreamy read. To be recommended.

Not one of Georgia Beers's best but it was...okay. The concept was interesting but the execution was not great, neither character was particularly compelling and I didn't feel we got to know them well enough. The conflict was short and anti-climatic with a HEA.

3.5 rounded up.

There are many things that I liked about this book; the premise, the main and secondary characters, the chemistry.

I like the build up of the romance. Bella and Easton had a nice rapport going. Easton's daughter was a nice addition and I appreciated that she didn't have a huge part in the story, She was there but Easton and Bella had plenty of alone time.

My main (and really only) complaint is that the inevitable late in the book conflict was a little too late in the book. I was 85% of the way through and still waiting for it to happen. That didn't leave much time to make amends. It wrapped up pretty quickly.

This is a book worth checking out.

(A copy of this book was generously provided to me by BSB through NetGalley)

I've read or listened to nearly everything that Georgia Beers has written. There are plenty of good stories out there from her, but by this story by far touched me in a way that her others haven't. I love stories that are nostalgic and have roots in our years as high schoolers. This story teases bits and pieces as the characters flashback now and again allowing you to see them when they were in high school, how one of the main character, Izzy (Bella) is treated as she is questioning her sexuality growing up and how she was teased and bullied by a group that included the girl that she fantasized about, Easton.

The two women meet as adults, only Easton does not recognize Bella, but Bella sure recognizes Easton. Her roughest days as a kid were spent trying to get away from her and her bullying friends. She decides not to tell Easton who she is and the two gradually draw closer to each other.

The story setup is so great. By the end, I was literally tearing up as I read the last few pages. Beers has artfully woven a beautiful story of redemption and love that I will certainly come back to many times.

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a beautiful love story that shows the power of forgiveness.

I was provided an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Georgia Beers! This book was an easy read. I was a bit frustrated by the length of the book, but that is just because I always want more. The characters are relatable, likable and just fun to get to know.

This was a nice second chance romance, with fun side characters. I'm not sure I bought the connection and chemistry between Bella and Easton, and actually felt a little cheated with the love scenes. There could have been more, both before and after the realization that they had a shared history.

Heh, so, it always seems like Beers takes a different look at a fic trope than I've ever thought about. It's nice.

In this one, Bella is a therapist and teaching her first corporate class on conflict resolution. Easton has started a new job with her company in a new place and is sent with her fellow department heads to take the class from Bella.

When Easton walks in we learn something else about Bella too. She knows Easton because when they were both in high school Easton and her friends made Bella's life a living hell. But at the same time Bella finds herself also being drawn to Easton. And Easton likes Bella right back, but doesn't seem to remember the hell she put Bella through.

It was a fun read. During the past high school scenes were visceral for sure and as I said above, it was interesting different look at the enemies to lovers trope.

Another good and very readable Georgia Beers novels.

I received this book via Netgalley thanks to Bold Strokes Books.

This is a read about moving on after life deals you a blow. I enjoy and appreciate this type of read as I remind myself of Margaret Mitchell's words from Gone with the wind, spoken by Scarlett O'Hara's ... after all, tomorrow is another day. "While we never know how many days we have left, tomorrow is always going to be coming. This quote talks about tomorrow as a new opportunity, a new chance to start again." Do-over. I applaud Bella Hunt for her ability to see Easton Evans for who she is today. The considerate romance between Bella and Easton with the cautionary support of their friends was nice.

The immediate sizzling chemistry between the characters was so enjoyable to read and I loved that they had a backstory, albeit not a very pleasant one. I was hoping for more of an exploration of their growth that brought them from their high school personalities to the current story, but other than that it was a sweet and heartwarming romance.

Bella Hunt is a successful therapist who, as a teenager, struggled to deal with her sexuality and was bullied by her classmates. Fifteen years later Easton Evans, one of her high school bullies, ends up in her conflict resolution class. Soon Bella discovers that grown-up Easton is friendlier and kinder than her teenage self but still very beautiful. As their mutual attraction develops, their shared past is eventually going to catch up with them...

This is a second-chance romance by Ms. Beers in which she draws on her own high school experience, showing how difficult a time that could be but also how people can change in adulthood. The story is mainly set in the present but it introduces a few flashbacks of some high-school moments that marked Bella's life. Past and present are woven seamlessly and the flashbacks make the reader understand the present better.

It's no news that Ms. Beers is an accomplished writer but, still, it really amazed me how well she built the chemistry between the main characters. The dialogues are perfect, their body language is depicted perfectly and the sexual tension is exquisite. This is undoubtedly Georgia Beers at her best. However, it's disappointing that both sex scenes felt a bit rushed and didn't reflect the intimacy that the author created so well.

The secondary characters are also very well-rounded. Shondra, Easton's best friend, plays a great role in showcasing Easton's goodness, compared to her past self. If there are any doubts of her transformation, motherhood completely redeems her. Emma, Easton's dauther, is another convincing character though it's a pity there wasn't so much interaction with Bella.

Heather and Amy, Bella's best friends, act like a sounding board and show how far she has overcome her own demons. Her two dogs are lovable fur characters. Somehow the author managed to balance the apparent fierness of a pitbull with the gentleness of their temperaments. Also, kudos to Ms. Beers to portray their distinct personalities so well.

My major criticism and the reason why my rating dropped is that the main conflict, that is, Bella keeping her real identity a secret from Easton, seems a bit forced into the plot. I understand why Bella was hesitant to reveal who she was but, for me, it dragged for too long and it didn't flow naturally in the story. Maybe letting the conflict develop earlier in the book would have made it more believable and the ending wouldn't have felt so rushed. Despite this, because of the lovable leads, their amazing chemistry and the fantastic secondary characters, this is a very recommended read.

Overall, a very good second-chances romance with an amazing chemistry that only a few lesfic authors can create. 4 stars.

ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

See all my reviews at
www.lezreviewbooks.com

*2.5 stars*

A fine lesbian romance. I liked it... I think?

I struggle with lesbian romances and contemporaries in general, and I'm always on the lookout for excellent F/F romance to change my mind. I've read Georgia Beers before, and I felt sort of similarly about this book as I have in the past.

The Do-Over started off very strong with a very appealing premise. I love romances between former bullies/enemies and the people they picked on, and though this book didn't end up being quite that in the end, it was still exciting. I also liked the chemistry and the tension between the two MCs, and I think that carried through most of the story very well.

However, I still had issues. Both MCs were beautiful, slim, all-American women in their early/mid 30s who look better without makeup than with makeup (I mean, seriously. I'm the same age and I look like I haven't slept in two weeks without concealer). They have long shiny hair that looks glamorous any way they style it, long legs, white teeth... you get the picture. I like my MCs to be a bit... meatier (and no, I don't mean chubby, though I could go for that too). I like some flaws in my characters, damn it. I don't want to read about stunning women and ripped men, but that's just me.

I also didn't like the deception in the story. The withholding of information went on for WAY too long, in my book, and it felt silly and drawn-out. I also HATED Easton's backstory with (view spoiler).

I think the plot was a little slow, but I still liked it overall, though I seem to be harping on the negatives. Not the F/F romance that is going to turn me into a lesfic devotee, but not a bad one.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

I get so revved up when I read books that focus on bullying. It is so difficult for me to read. Perhaps because I went through a bit of that myself. From both sides of the fence. Yes, kids are definitely cruel.

But for Bella (who went by Izzy back in high school), there were none more cruel than Tara and her gal pal Easton. They tormented her to the point that Izzy had to leave town and never look back.

Then Easton ends up attending a corporate conflict resolution course that Bella is facilitating. Boom. Sparks fly. But not the hateful kind Bella would have expected.

This story revolves around Bella contemplating her attraction and the potential for more without ever telling Easton that she was her bully back in high school. (Easton doesn't recognize her because she has had a miraculous glow up.)

I really enjoyed this book, but it was not perfect. There is something revealed about Easton that is a terrible character flaw and yet it is glossed over by EVERYONE. "It's OK. You were just figuring yourself out!" - Nope. So it was hard for me to really get behind her after that. I eventually got over it, but I just don't think it was necessary. Could have been made a different scenario with the same kind catalyst for her divorce with Conner.

Speaking of Conner, toward the end the author had Easton reaching out to him. But it just didn't make sense when in previous conversation, she had mentioned that her Grandpa is the one who knows everything and gets her. I felt a little bit let down that we were never able to see that relationship. It would have been more impacting if he would have had some sage advice that paved her way.

Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable romance. I really liked Bella and her friends. The interactions between Easton and Bella was flirty and sweet.

<i>I received an ARC through Netgalley from Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.</i>